Cabinet papers - Information releases

These papers relate to the Social Security (Mandatory Reviews) Amendment Act that was passed in June 2025 which amends the Social Security Act 2018. This Act introduces a requirement that MSD must review a specified benefit at least once every 52 weeks.

These papers outline Cabinet agreement in principle to the government commitments in the draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan (Action Plan) to support informal or unpaid carers (Appendix 1) and provide further detail on the Action Plan and development. Agreement in principle is subject to the planned report-back to Cabinet in April 2026, which considers consultation feedback and advice on ongoing governance structures for the Action Plan.

This paper sought Cabinet agreement to publish the second Better Later Life Action Plan.

Amendment of the Social Security Regulations 2018 is required to ensure that Flexible Childcare Assistance, and Training Incentive Allowance payments can be paid directly to eligible clients as intended by the respective policy intents, rather than being paid in the Youth Money Management manner. 

The paper ‘Tightening access to Jobseeker Support and Emergency Benefit for 18 and 19 year olds’ progresses decisions related to the Budget 2025 initiative to tighten eligibility of Jobseeker Support and Emergency Benefit for people aged 18 and 19 years.

These papers provide an update on the Government Response to the recommendations from the report by Dame Karen Poutasi on the Joint Review into the Children’s Sector. Note that recommendations 8 and 9 in the Cabinet paper were updated in the Cabinet Social Outcomes Committee (SOU) Minute of Decision following discussions at SOU Committee.

A welfare programme is required to establish the Welfare that Works Bonus Payment of $1,000, intended to reward young, long-term jobseekers who enter employment and remain off a main benefit.

Cabinet approval is required for the Ministry of Social Development to spend up to an additional $300,000 from MSD baselines on Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) to support the clean-up efforts from an adverse weather event in the Tasman district.

These papers relate to the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill, which amends the Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992, the Social Security Act 2018 and the Public and Community Housing Management (Prescribed Elements of Calculation Mechanism) Regulations 2018.

These papers relate to the Social Assistance (Housing) Legislation Amendment Bill, which amends the Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992, the Social Security Act 2018, the Social Security Regulations 2018 and the Public and Community Housing Management (Prescribed Elements of Calculation Mechanism) Regulations 2018.

This paper sought decisions relating to the introduction of mandatory reviews for some benefits, to support implementation of Budget 2024 initiative to recognise housing contributions from all boarders in the assessment of housing subsidies.

Amendments to the Social Security Act 2018 and Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018 are required to ensure that Lake Alice redress payments are permanently excluded from being considered as income or cash assets for assistance administered by the Ministry of Social Development.

The paper is seeking agreement to stabilise Disability Support Services through amendments to assessments, allocations, and the use of flexible funding.

These papers are the Detailed Business Case to continue the Ministry of Social Development’s transformation programme. MSD will change the way it operates, modernise its technology and business processes to support new and more efficient ways of working, and reduce costs and risk.